Arcgis Integrated Petroleum System Evaluation of the Greater Green River Basin

Stephen Brown¹, John E. Zumberge¹, Harold Illich¹, and Michael P. Dolan^2
1GeoMark Research, Ltd., Houston, TX
²Dolan Integration Group, LLC, Louisville, CO

Results from an integrated petroleum system study are displayed in ArcGIS map format. Data from a combination of a) source rock, b) oil, c) natural gas, and d) water analyses are integrated to assess each of the petroleum systems in the greater Green River Basin. The project concentrates on charge histories of the Phosphoria, Mowry, Mancos/Hilliard/Baxter, and Mesaverde systems, and focuses on the origin, thermal maturity, and quality of the oil and natural gas in the basin. The study incorporates source rock analyses of over 60 individual wells, detailed oil analyses of over 125 oil samples, and analyses of over 800 gas samples. Over 250 new gas samples were analyzed for stable carbon and deuterium isotope compositions.

Green River oil biomarkers define the source rock type (e.g. carbonate, distal shale, paralic shale) as well as age and maturity at expulsion. Stable carbon isotope compositions of the gases further refine source rock thermal maturities into the gas generative window. Together with source rock richness and present day measured maturity, the fluid and rock data are best integrated using a GIS platform. Each petroleum system can be mapped separately or together to optimize future exploration success.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90092©2009 AAPG Rocky Mountain Section, July 9-11, 2008, Denver, Colorado